Steam steering apparatus



v (No Model.)

J. B. BROLASKI. STEAM STEERING APPARATUS.

W/TNESSES nv VEN 70/? w 4 y bmww ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES JOSEPH B. BROLASKI, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

STEAM STEERING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,866, dated May 5, 1891.

Application filed January 15 1891. Serial No. 377,863. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OSEPH B. BROLASKI, of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steam Steering Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description- My invention relates to improvements in that class of steamboats which are propelled by independent side wheels worked by independent engines; and the object of my invention is to produce a simple and efficient apparatus by means of which a vessel may be steered independently of the rudder.

In steering by a rudder, the point of pivot is at the bowgbutby steering withindependent paddle-wheels, the point of pivot is amidships, and consequently the vessel may be turned much quicker by the apparatus embodying my invention than by the rudder.

Myinvention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a detail view in elevation, showing the general arrangement of the steam-supply pipes and the mechanism for controlling the supply of steam. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1, showing the arrange ment of the supply-pipe valves and their connections; and Fig. 3 is a detail view of the valve.

In vessels of the character described the side wheels are propelled by independent engines, which are timed so that the Wheels will normally be driven at the same speed, and the engines are supplied with steam by means of supply-pipes A, which pipes are provided with throttle-valves B, having the usual opening 1) therein and having trunnions b, which are mounted in suitable hearings in the pipes, one of said trunnions being prolonged to form a valve-stem, and the valve-stems are provided with crank-arms O, which are secured to cables D, and the cables are provided at their lower ends with weights D, which normally hold the valves closed.

The upper ends of the cables D are secured to the ends of a crossbeam E, which has a central hole e therein to slip over the buttons or pins f on the post F. This postF ismounted on the floor G of the pilot-house, and the buttons or pins f vertically align and are placed such a distance apart that by slipping the cross-beam from one to the other the position of the valves may be regulated and so closed or partially closed as to secure a uniform power of greater or less intensity, as desired.

In the drawings I have shown the cables D extending from the crank-arms 0 directly upward to the crossbeam- E; but it is obvious that the cables may be made to extend over suitable guide-pulleys, so that if the pilothouse is not located directly above the supply-pipes the cables may be conducted into it and may be operated in the manner described.

It will be seen that as the cross-beam rests normally on one of its pivots the weight at each end will keep it in a horizontal position, and the valves B will thus be held in similar positions, so that the vessel will be driven straight ahead; but by tilting the cross-beam one valve may be closed or partially closed and the other opened to the same extent, and when one is closed the engine connecting with its supply-pipe will be nearly stopped, and if the opposite engine is kept going it will be readily seen that the vessel will be quickly turned.

The cross-beam may be adjusted and tilted so as to completely close one valve and open 8 5 the other, and in this case the vessel will be turned very quickly; or the beam may be tilted so as to slightly close one valve and correspondingly open the opposite valve, and

in this case the vessel will be steered slightly 0 to port or starboard, as the case may be.

The vessel should be provided with the ordinary steering-wheel H and chains 71., which connect with the rudder, so that in case of accident to the steam steering apparatus or 9 5 IOO main supply-pipes, of valves located therein, a cross-beam pivoted on a support, and connections between the ends of the cross-beam and the valves, substantially as described.

2. In a steam steering apparatus of the character described, the combination, with the main supply-pipes having valves therein, of a cross-beam adjustably pivoted. to a support, and connections between the ends of the cross-beam and the valves, substantially as described.

3. In asteam steering apparatus of the character described, the combination, With the main supply-pipes and thethrottle-valves located therein and provided with crank-arms, of a cross-beam adjustably pivoted to a sup- 

